Metuh Fell On His Own Because We asked Him To Sit – Judge

Metuh in court on a stretcher

Okon Abang, a judge of the federal high court in Abuja, says Olisa Metuh, former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), fell in court “on his own.”

Recall Naija News reported that Mr. Olisa Metuh, collapsed on Monday morning while he being docked for his resumed trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Metuh was said to have collapsed in the court while he was making his way to the dock on Monday.

The incident made the presiding judge to rise briefly while Metuh received medical attention.

But at the continued trial on Tuesday, Abang said Metuh who was absent in court  fell “on his own” after he disobeyed court orders to sit down.

Tochukwu Onwugbufor, a defence lawyer, had pleaded with the court to adjourn the trial since Metuh was absent from the court.

He explained that the court doctor was the one who gave the directive that Metuh should be taken to he hospital on Monday.

But the judge immediately said he never directed any doctor to see Metuh after he fell.

“The court did not direct the doctor to attend to the defendant,” he said, adding: “I would not know the person that directed the doctor to see the defendant when I rose briefly upon hearing that the defendant fell down on his own.

“The court directed him to sit down where he was but he decided to fall down on his own.”

Thereafter, Sylvanus Tahir, the prosecuting counsel, urged the judge to continue with the trial even with Metuh’s absence.

Meanwhile, Counsel to Metuh, Emeka Etiaba, also returned to the court after requesting to withdraw from the case but was denied by the judge who believed it would delay the trial.

Metuh is standing trial for alleged money laundering. He was accused of illegally receiving N400 million from the office of Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser.